Riesling Week to kick off

The UK’s first-ever Riesling Week kicks off in the last week of July, with retailers around the country committed to promoting Germany’s prized grape.

Riesling Week , which aims to highlight to consumers the quality, versatility and unique food-matching capabilities of German Rieslings at all price points, will run from July 23 to 31.

Eight top restaurants in the South-east, including the Michelin-starred Yauatcha and London’s The Ledbury, will be taking part in the promotion. Private members club Home House is running discounts on German Rieslings for the month of July, while deals are also on offer at five-star country hotel, The Vineyard at Stockcross and the Hotel du Vin Winchester.

Fifteen wine merchants across the country have signed up including Avery’s of Bristol, Cheshire-based Corks Out, Glasgow wine merchant Inverarity One to One, and Ex-Cellar in London.

The prize for the best performing restaurant and retailer is £1,000 each towards new German wine listings, with runners-up each getting £500. A member of the wine service staff from the winning restaurant will also win a place on the Sommelier Spring Class trip to Germany in April 2012.

Wines of Germany has also linked up with Square Meal to create a Riesling Week microsite, containing food and wine matching suggestions, a guide to German wine labelling and a list of participating outlets.

Wines of Germany’s UK managing director Nicky Forrest said: “With consumers increasingly looking for lighter, aromatic wines, it’s great to see the trade really getting behind German Riesling and showing their customers the modern face of German wines.”